Kotoko's a Little Weird
- March 15, 2024
- shinachiku-castella
Get on Steam"Kotoko's a Little Weird" is a narrative-driven game following Kotoko, a student and sister set in her mundane routine. When she decides to break free, she encounters quirky situations and meets new friends. The game explores her journey of self-discovery, embracing her uniqueness, and finding excitement in the ordinary.
Reviews
- The game features a bold exploration of mature themes and self-identity, providing a unique narrative experience.
- Multiple endings encourage replayability and exploration of different story paths.
- The narrative-driven gameplay emphasizes personal growth and character development.
- The game is very short, with a playtime of around 45 minutes to an hour per ending.
- The art style is divisive, featuring characters that may not appeal to all players, described as 'ugly bastards'.
- Technical polish is lacking, with minor UI and text issues that detract from the overall experience.
- story13 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The game's story centers on Kotoko Haruyama, a model student exploring her desires, leading to a journey filled with mature themes and complex character interactions. While it prioritizes narrative and exploration over traditional gameplay, the story offers a nuanced balance between empowerment and exploitation, making it a unique experience for those open to its unconventional approach. However, some players note that the art quality detracts from the overall storytelling experience.
“This game tells the story of Kotoko Haruyama, a model student who decides to explore her desires, leading her into unexpected and often compromising situations.”
“It explores mature themes through a character-driven story, emphasizing Kotoko's personal journey and interactions.”
“The story balances between empowerment and exploitation, offering a nuanced take on Kotoko's experiences.”
“Its exploration of sensitive topics is enveloped in an RPG format that prioritizes story over gameplay, making it a niche but noteworthy experience.”
“Approach with an open mind, but be prepared for its unconventional approach to storytelling and character design.”
- gameplay11 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 27 % negative mentions
The gameplay is primarily narrative-driven, focusing on character interactions and choices made while walking home from school, which unlocks various story elements. It emphasizes exploration and personal growth over traditional gameplay mechanics, resulting in a minimalistic experience that prioritizes storytelling and self-discovery. While some players may find the lack of conventional gameplay challenging, the unique approach and themes offer a compelling experience for those interested in narrative-rich games.
“The gameplay is you walking home from school and choosing what to do on the way home, and that's what unlocks stuff.”
“The gameplay is minimal, focusing on narrative progression and character interaction.”
“Despite its minimalistic gameplay and design quirks, the game offers an intriguing narrative for those interested in stories of rebellion and self-discovery.”
“Similar to other games made by the devs, gameplay is pretty much nonexistent; you're just slowly progressing the scenario with five ugly characters.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's graphics feature a divisive and provocative art style that emphasizes unconventional character designs, which some players appreciate for its uniqueness while others find detracting from immersion, particularly during intimate scenes. While the artistic approach aligns with the game's mature themes and narrative of self-acceptance, there are calls for broader artistic variety to enhance overall appeal.
“The game's mature content and unique art style have divided audiences, but its narrative of finding joy in one's desires and challenging norms offers a rare protagonist whose journey is marked by self-acceptance and exploration of sexuality.”
“The provocative art style and character design are truly distinctive.”
“The graphics feature a unique art style with a focus on less traditionally attractive characters.”
“The graphics are divisive; the unique art style focuses on less traditionally attractive characters.”
“The provocative art style and character design leave much to be desired.”
“The artwork during the h-scenes is so poor that it breaks the immersion.”
- character development3 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's character development is marked by a provocative art style featuring unconventional "ugly bastards," which reflects the developer's unique vision but may not resonate with all players. This distinctive approach to storytelling and character design encourages players to engage with the narrative in an open-minded manner.
“The game's art and character design are notable for featuring 'ugly bastards,' a choice that aligns with the developer's distinctive style but may not appeal to all players.”
“Approach with an open mind, but be prepared for its unconventional approach to storytelling and character design.”
“Provocative art style and character design.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game offers high replayability due to its multiple endings, encouraging players to explore different choices and outcomes.
“Multiple endings foster exploration and replayability.”
“The game offers a variety of choices that encourage players to experience different outcomes.”
“Each playthrough reveals new secrets and challenges, making it hard to put down.”
“The multiple endings foster exploration and replayability.”
“The game lacks significant changes in subsequent playthroughs, making it feel repetitive.”
“Once you've experienced the story, there's little incentive to replay it.”
